US no longer requires COVID test for travelers flying into the country

Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

According to a report, the US will no longer require international air travelers to take a test. The change will take effect on June 12th and the CDC will reexamine the decision in three months. People flying into the US won't have to worry about taking a COVID test until the summer travel season is over

Before the reported change, unvaccinated passengers had to get a test before entering the US, according to the CDC. Children under two years old were the only ones who didn't have to be tested.

Concerns about the spread of the Alpha variant led to the requirement being put into place in January 2021. Most airlines stopped requiring masks in April after a judge struck down a requirement for masks on public transportation.

An executive from American Airlines lambasted the US requirement, and the CEO of Delta Airlines argued that most countries don't require testing. Travelers don't have to take any COVID-19 tests when they arrive in the United Kingdom. Mexico, Norway, and Switzerland don't have any requirements.

If you can't show proof of vaccine, you'll have to have a negative test result. Australia requires vaccinations but not pre- travel testing, while Japan only requires vaccinations from one country. According to CNN, most visitors aren't allowed into the country, and that those who are will have to do three COVID tests before leaving.